Centre-back George Ray is relishing the chance to pull on a Tranmere Rovers shirt after he became Micky Mellon’s first signing of the summer.
Defender Ray, 25, makes the move to Prenton Park on a two-year contract after leaving Crewe Alexandra after more than a decade at Gresty Road both as a professional and a youth team player.
Ray, a former Wales U21 international, is looking forward to getting started as Mellon’s men continue their preparations for the new Sky Bet League One campaign, which kicks-off with a home fixture against Rochdale at Prenton Park on Saturday 3rd August.
He said: “I’m buzzing, I’m absolutely delighted to be here, and I can’t wait to get going.
“I was on holiday a few weeks ago, I had a few texts here and there and spoke to my agent and then Micky rang me, I’ve had a few phone calls of managers this summer but no-one has roped me in like he roped me in and it really made me believe that he wanted me to come to this Club.
“They (TRFC) have done really well over the last couple of seasons and when I was speaking to the manager, he says he wants to go again, obviously it will be a big ask but he’s hungry, I’m hungry and hopefully as a team we can have another successful season.
“I had a good season last year, so I was just seeing my options being what was what and this is what appealed to me the most and this is where I wanted to come.
“I was made captain of Crewe two or three years ago so I can bring that leadership qualities here, obviously you are going to have a lot of players who are leaders here if you look through the team and hopefully I can add to the leadership qualities.”
With the likes of former Premier League sides, Sunderland, Bolton Wanderers and Portsmouth to visit the Wirral in Sky Bet League One next term, Ray, who made 137 appearances for Crewe in eight-years as a professional with the Railwaymen, feels that the SWA can make Prenton Park a fortress in the third-tier.
Ray added: “There’s some massive clubs in this league now, I’ve played half of my career in League One, it’s a tough league. League One and League Two are tough but you’re never going to have an easy game and hopefully we can get a job done this season.
“In and around football, players don’t like coming to Tranmere, especially on Friday night, it’s not a nice place to come because of the fans and obviously being on the other side of it now, it is going to be great to play here in front of the fans and when teams come here they won’t enjoy it.”